Shloka 26

Oṣadhi-nāma-nirdeśa: Paryāya (Synonyms) of Herbs, Minerals, and Classical Measures

Devanagari script

त्रिफला फलमेवोक्ता तच्च ज्ञेयं फलत्रिकम् / उदकीर्यो दीर्घवृन्तः करञ्जश्चेति कीर्तितः

Transliteration

triphalā phalamevoktā tacca jñeyaṃ phalatrikam / udakīryo dīrghavṛntaḥ karañjaśceti kīrtitaḥ

Translation

‘ത്രിഫല’യെ ഫലമിശ്രണമെന്നു പറയുന്നു; അത് ‘ഫലത്രികം’ അഥവാ മൂന്നു ഫലങ്ങളുടെ കൂട്ടമെന്നു അറിയണം. ‘ഉദകീര്യ’, ‘ദീർഘവൃന്ത’, ‘കരഞ്ജ’—ഇവയാണ് ആ മൂന്നു ഫലങ്ങൾ എന്നു കീർത്തിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• त्रिफला: Triphalā
• त्रिफला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + फला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (three-fruits; Triphalā)

• फलम्: fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• उक्ता: is said/called
• उक्ता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि (is said/called)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कर्तव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (तव्यत्/य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• फलत्रिकम्: the triad of fruits
• फलत्रिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल + त्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (phalānāṃ trikam)

• उदकीर्यः: Udakīrya (name)
• उदकीर्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + ईर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दीर्घवृन्तः: Dīrghavṛnta (long-stalked; name)
• दीर्घवृन्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + वृन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (long-stalked)

• करञ्जः: Karañja (a tree)
• करञ्जः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थ

• कीर्तितः: is mentioned/called
• कीर्तितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि (is mentioned/called)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A compound term (Triphala/phalatrika) is unpacked into its enumerated members; technical vocabulary encodes composition.

Vedantic Theme: From saṃjñā to viśeṣaṇa: analysis of a general term into particulars mirrors viveka in practical knowledge.

Application: Do not treat ‘Triphala’ as a single fruit; verify the intended triad in the given tradition/text before preparation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.204.25-26 (Triphala identification and composition)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Triphalā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Triphalā as a specific triad of fruits, indicating that ritual or medicinal references to “Triphala” in this section should be understood as these three named items.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it clarifies technical terminology (Triphala) used in the Preta-kāṇḍa context, where precise identification of substances can matter for rites and prescribed practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a caution for accuracy: when a text prescribes a named compound like Triphalā, practitioners and readers should verify the intended constituents rather than assume a later or different formulation.